If you just use X5s or larger vehicles as you have described you may have a measurable point. But having driven a diesel sedan for years i can truthfully say it paid for itself 2 times over. So any enthusiasm for diesels i would have would be based on a measurable amount of experience.
Is diesel slower and noisier? It was back in 1976. But it had a number of redeeming qualities the best of which was it burned up the road, passed people like they were standing still hour after hour for long distances, passing gas stations all the while.
These days slower and and noisier is not an issue but i admit i haven't driven the new engines. If i considered the purchase it would not be the X5 but something smaller in order to see the benefit.
Nope it doesn't get out of the blocks like other vehicles but the sustainable speed at low RPM experience is a very satisfying.
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Originally Posted by JCL
The rabid enthusiasm for diesels continues. Just for laughs, I worked out the annual fuel savings for a Mercedes diesel. I used an ML320cdi, and an ML350. This is an X5 forum, so it seems that model is a better comparison than the E320cdi IMO. I used the published Mercedes city fuel consumption figures (11 l/100 km, and 14.1 l/100 km). I used 12,000 km per year, my average mileage. Then I went to Vancouvergasprices.com, our local fuel price web site, and took the average local fuel prices of 1.229 per litre for gasoline, 1.299 per litre for diesel (that is a difference of 26 cents per US gallon, which seems to be a representative US price premium as well from coments on the board).
The price premium for the Mercedes CDI diesel is $1500 in Canada. Probably about what a BMW price premium will be.
Assume similar maintenance costs, similar resale values. The payback period for the diesel is 4.1 years in city driving. The payback for highway driving is 6.6 years. That is to just to get to break even. For mixed highway/city, it is about a 5 year payback. Now consider that diesel prices are likely to increase faster than gasoline prices due to limited supply, and it looks even worse. And, bonus, you get a diesel that is slower and noisier. Even better, you have to fill the urea tank as well as the fuel tank. Torque is much higher, but it is irrelevant, as the diesel has 53 hp less and is slower to accelerate.
Agree that if you drive a lot more than I do, the payback would be quicker.
Is this a valid comparison for an X5? It is directionally correct. Some may get a payback sooner. But for me, keeping my vehicles for 3 years average, I would always be behind. But we continue to hear about the amazing diesels coming to our shores. BMW should keep them in Europe. Want to save money on fuel? Drive less.
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